By Olivia Ray
BOSTON (WWLP) – As we head into the final weekend before the general election, 22News is wrapping up our unpacking your ballot series with a window into the debate surrounding question 5.
The final ballot question asks voters if the minimum wage for tipped workers, like wait staff and bartenders, should be raised to $15 an hour. The core disagreement between the yes and no sides of the argument is whether tipped workers will make more or less money with a higher minimum wage.
A yes vote on question 5 would support raising the minimum wage for tipped workers to 15 dollars an hour over the course of five years and allow restaurants to pool tips to distribute to all non-management workers.
A no vote would make no change to the minimum wage for tipped workers.
22News spoke to a western Massachusetts server who supports question 5. She says a higher minimum wage will make her less dependent on tips, and she would not have to deal with inappropriate behavior just to ensure she gets tipped.
“There’s a lot of sexual harassment, a lot of wage theft, and a lot of economic instability for tipped workers, especially tipped workers who are women and women of color,” said Erica Thomas, who works at a restaurant in East Longmeadow.
As it stands, employers are required to bridge the gap to minimum wage if employees’ tips do not get them over the state threshold. Opposition to the ballot question says restaurant workers make much more without a higher minimum wage.
22News spoke to the No on 5 campaign spokesperson, who expressed concerns that local restaurants will have to increase prices and lay off workers.
“What about small towns? What about western Mass? If you only have three or four restaurants in a community, and all of a sudden two of them are closed, there’s not a line of restaurants getting ready to open in these neighborhoods,” said spokesperson Chris Keohan. “You are killing the lifeblood of these neighborhoods.”
The yes and no sides also disagree on the value of tip pooling, which is an option for employers where all non-management workers get a share of the tips, including non-customer-facing workers like cooks and dishwashers.
The yes side told 22News that they feel this would be a fair policy, while the no side said employees should be able to keep the entirety of the tips they personally earn.
You can make your voice heard on minimum wage for tipped workers this coming Tuesday, November 5.